Our Fabulous Visitors...

Its the Fab Four and More — Miami Beach has been an entertainment center as well as a relaxation spot for the famous and near famous. Nothing like performing by night and relaxing in the surf by day.

Frank SInatra filming Tony Rome

Frank Sinatra with Jill St. John in 1967 filming Tony Rome, the first of three films he shot at the Fontainebleau. He was appearing nightly at the hotel’s nightclub, shooting during the day.

Jackie Gleason

One of the most popular television entertainers of his day Jackie Gleason, often called “Mr. Saturday Night,” was a bigger-than-life, multi-talented showman of stand-up comedy and skits, he also composed his own program theme songs even though he could not read a note of music. He brought his TV show to Miami Beach when he moved here in 1959.

SophieTucker

Sophie Tucker, an iconic superstar and regular visitor to Miami Beach ruled vaudeville, Broadway, radio, television, and Hollywood throughout the 20th century. Known as the “Last of the Red Hot Mamas,” Tucker was well-known in Jewish circles for her recording of “My Yiddishe Momme.”

J. Edgar Hoover

at Joe’s Stone Crab

Joe’s Stone Crab has always been the place to be seen on Miami Beach. Columnist Walter Winchell and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover were regulars. Former Mayor Harold Rosen was seated with them at Joe’s owner’s Jesse Weiss’ table, when…

Ali and Beatles

Cassius Clay arrived in Miami in 1960 and left as Muhammad Ali, heavyweight champ. Ali trained at Miami Beach’s 5th St. Gym. He took on the Fab Four during a photo op at the gym shortly before his championship win over Sonny Liston in February 1964.

J. Edgar Hoover and Walter Winchell

FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, center, with influential columnist Walter Winchell, right, and Assistant FBI Director Greg Tolson. Hoover and Tolson took their vacations the first two weeks in December in Miami. They usually had dinner together with Winchell at Joe’s Stone Crab.

Alfred Hitchcock

CLICK to see the Miami Herald profile of “Hitch” when he and his wife came to Miami Beach in 1958. The article talks more about his weight and girth, and how petite his wife is, than his films — at the time, he was probably Hollywood’s most famous director. Hitchcock, an English film director, was often referred to as “The Master of Suspense” and pioneered many elements of the suspense and psychological thriller genres.

Nothing Draws the Visitors Like Joe’s

Jo Ann Bass grew up in the apartment over Joe’s and started working a full shift in the restaurant when she was 13. Grand-daughter of Joe Weiss, and daughter of Jesse, she still runs the place. When she was a little girl, her father would call her to come down to the restaurant if their was an important or interesting visitor who she should meet. One of the those was J. Edgar Hoover, at the restaurant with his regular dining companion, Walter Winchell.